After freeing the Prince of Crooked Hill, Sloe and their best friend Qes have fled the battlefield of the Stoneharp and need to find their feet in the baffling world of the Eastern Cities. As the newest members of the prince's household, they quickly become entangled in the schemes and rivalries of the royal family and the mysterious disappearance of the prince's only son and heir. While Qes comes into conflict with the repressive customs of the Cities and their courts, Sloe is deeply troubled by their emerging powers and own family history, can they both find a way to survive and thrive in the Eastern Cities?
